Electrical Level Instruments

Chapter 4-14 & 4-15

Electronic Sensors-Conductive Probes
• Used in single or multiple point measurement systems to provide
point level indication
• Advantages- low cost simple design
• Disadvantage – only point indication in conductive liquids
• Operation – an electric voltage is applied across a ground probe (or
the tank wall) and a sensing probe. When the conductive liquid
contacts both probes the circuit is completed and current flows. The
current is used to activate a switch.
• The voltage used is dependent on the conductivity of the fluid.
Conductive probe level control
 Capacitance Probes
• Works on the theory of capacitance. Normally a probe is inserted into the tank
which acts as 1 plate of a capacitor and the side of the tank acts as the second plate
of the capacitor. The dielectric is a combination of the air and the nonconductive
liquid in the tank. Changing the fluid level in the tank changes the total capacitance
of the detector.
• If a non metal tank is used a second probe may be used as the second plate.
• If the liquid is conductive the probe will be coated with Teflon. In this case the
Teflon becomes the dielectric and the fluid acts as the second plate of the capacitor.
• Simple to use and relatively inexpensive.
• May not work well with high solids content, very conductive liquids or large
temperature changes.
Capacitance Probes
 Ultrasonic detectors
• Ultrasonic sound waves are developed by an oscillator. They are emitted by a
transmitter toward the contents of the tank and are reflected back to a receiver
in the same instrument.
• The time it takes the signal to travel both ways is inversely proportional to level in
the tank. The longer it takes for the sound waves to make the trip the lower the
level in the tank.
• Advantages-
• Noninvasive
• Long sensing range
• Long lifespan (no moving parts)
• Not reliable where mists or foam exist on the top of the tank.
Ultrasonic level sensor
 Calibration
• Most analog sensors can provide a 4-20mA signal or a 0-10v signal.
• In most cases they will be calibrated so the desired minimum distance from the
sensor to the target is 4 mA or 0 volts and the largest distance from the sensor
to the target is 20mA or 10 volts.
• The 4mA or 0 volt level is called the zero calibration setting.
• The 20 mA or 10 volt level is called the span calibration setting.
• Once the zero and span settings are properly set the instrument should produce
a linear output that is proportional to the distance the target is from the sensor.
 Selecting a level sensor
• Properties of the medium
• Is it a solid or liquid
• Will foam, mist or vapors be present
• Does the material contain chunks or voids
• Is the materials density subject to changes
• What are the chemical and thermal properties
• Corrosive
• Flammable
• Caustic
• Sterile
• General
• Reliability, safety, and cost.